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Newsnight Help for Heroes journalist 'stands by story 100%' Newsnight Help for Heroes journalist 'stands by story 100%'
(4 months later)
The journalist at the centre of a controversial Newsnight report about military charity Help for Heroes has said he stands by his story despite a BBC apology that described it as "misleading and unfair".The journalist at the centre of a controversial Newsnight report about military charity Help for Heroes has said he stands by his story despite a BBC apology that described it as "misleading and unfair".
Angus Stickler accused the BBC's editorial complaints unit of failing to take into account all of the evidence and said he "stands by the story 100%".Angus Stickler accused the BBC's editorial complaints unit of failing to take into account all of the evidence and said he "stands by the story 100%".
The BBC said it would broadcast a cross-network apology on Thursday after the report, broadcast on Newsnight on 9 August last year, accused Help for Heroes of not spending enough of its money helping wounded veterans.The BBC said it would broadcast a cross-network apology on Thursday after the report, broadcast on Newsnight on 9 August last year, accused Help for Heroes of not spending enough of its money helping wounded veterans.
It said the report was "misleading and unfair" to Help for Heroes and misrepresented the views of two people who contributed. It also said the response of Help to Heroes to the allegations "wasn't properly reflected" in the programme.It said the report was "misleading and unfair" to Help for Heroes and misrepresented the views of two people who contributed. It also said the response of Help to Heroes to the allegations "wasn't properly reflected" in the programme.
But Stickler, who was also behind Newsnight's inaccurate McAlpine report which led to a £185,000 damages payout, said in a statement that his story "accurately reported the legitimate concerns of wounded veterans, serving service personnel, and their families".But Stickler, who was also behind Newsnight's inaccurate McAlpine report which led to a £185,000 damages payout, said in a statement that his story "accurately reported the legitimate concerns of wounded veterans, serving service personnel, and their families".
"I stand by the story 100%. It was well sourced, based on sound evidence and thoroughly tested," Stickler said in a statement issued by the National Union of Journalists."I stand by the story 100%. It was well sourced, based on sound evidence and thoroughly tested," Stickler said in a statement issued by the National Union of Journalists.
"It was a brave decision for those wounded soldiers and their families to take part in the report, and they had an absolute right to be heard. These are people of great courage and integrity. We had a duty to properly report their views."It was a brave decision for those wounded soldiers and their families to take part in the report, and they had an absolute right to be heard. These are people of great courage and integrity. We had a duty to properly report their views.
  
"It is my belief that the process of the BBC's editorial complaints unit investigation failed to fully and properly reflect the evidence put before it; and the assertion that the report misrepresented the interviewees is, in my opinion, unfounded.""It is my belief that the process of the BBC's editorial complaints unit investigation failed to fully and properly reflect the evidence put before it; and the assertion that the report misrepresented the interviewees is, in my opinion, unfounded."
Stickler added: "The interviewees, including one of Help for Heroes patrons, argued that spending on construction projects primarily for serving service personnel should be the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence, and that charity money would be better spent on practical help for veterans.Stickler added: "The interviewees, including one of Help for Heroes patrons, argued that spending on construction projects primarily for serving service personnel should be the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence, and that charity money would be better spent on practical help for veterans.
"It is of note that the ruling by the BBC's editorial complaints unit found that at least some of the injured veterans and their families had expressed this view and therefore it was legitimate to report these concerns.""It is of note that the ruling by the BBC's editorial complaints unit found that at least some of the injured veterans and their families had expressed this view and therefore it was legitimate to report these concerns."
Stickler is no longer part of the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, which is based in City University, having left in the wake of the McAlpine report last year.Stickler is no longer part of the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, which is based in City University, having left in the wake of the McAlpine report last year.
The bureau's managing editor Christopher Hird, who took on the job in January, said: "This was clearly a perfectly legitimate subject of inquiry, the BBC accepts that.The bureau's managing editor Christopher Hird, who took on the job in January, said: "This was clearly a perfectly legitimate subject of inquiry, the BBC accepts that.
"I also accept that mistakes were made in the programme in the way in which the concerns which veterans had about Help for Heroes were expressed. These mistakes were the result of some weaknesses in the system of editorial oversight and management."I also accept that mistakes were made in the programme in the way in which the concerns which veterans had about Help for Heroes were expressed. These mistakes were the result of some weaknesses in the system of editorial oversight and management.
"As far as it is in my control since I have arrived I have put in place new processes which are designed to ensure there is much better management and oversight of these sort of joint investigations and all our investigations in future so the chances of this sort of thing happening again are as minimal as they possibly can be.""As far as it is in my control since I have arrived I have put in place new processes which are designed to ensure there is much better management and oversight of these sort of joint investigations and all our investigations in future so the chances of this sort of thing happening again are as minimal as they possibly can be."
Bryn and Emma Parry, the co-founders of Help for Heroes, said in a joint statement: "The Newsnight report was a complete shock to us, but an even bigger shock to the men and women we're helping to recover.Bryn and Emma Parry, the co-founders of Help for Heroes, said in a joint statement: "The Newsnight report was a complete shock to us, but an even bigger shock to the men and women we're helping to recover.
"Broad and completely understandable concerns about the long-term care needs of the wounded were falsely and unfairly reported as criticisms of the charity."Broad and completely understandable concerns about the long-term care needs of the wounded were falsely and unfairly reported as criticisms of the charity.
"On the day the programme went out we were inundated with offers of support from the wounded themselves who were keen to set the record straight. The [Bureau of Investigation] should now apologise to each of them, their families and to all those who give up their time to volunteer and fundraise in support of our work."On the day the programme went out we were inundated with offers of support from the wounded themselves who were keen to set the record straight. The [Bureau of Investigation] should now apologise to each of them, their families and to all those who give up their time to volunteer and fundraise in support of our work.
"We are grateful the BBC has admitted it got the story completely wrong and has finally apologised. We are pleased the BBC has taken this matter seriously, and issued what we believe to be one of their biggest apologies in the last four years. We now consider the matter closed and look forward to working with the BBC in the future.""We are grateful the BBC has admitted it got the story completely wrong and has finally apologised. We are pleased the BBC has taken this matter seriously, and issued what we believe to be one of their biggest apologies in the last four years. We now consider the matter closed and look forward to working with the BBC in the future."
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